PADRES NOTES: Latos closing in on fifth spot

Young RHP has 2.00 ERA in nine spring innings

PEORIA, Ariz. ---- Bud Black has dropped hints about his choice
for the fourth starter in the Padres' rotation, saying left-hander
Clayton Richard "has a leg up on the competition."

But the manager's choice for the fifth spot has been a closely
guarded secret ... until Tuesday.

That's when Black said "If Mat Latos continues to pitch well,
you'll see him on the team."

The hard-throwing 22-year-old was 4-5 with a 4.62 ERA in 10
starts with the Padres last season. But he was shut down in
September to save his valuable right arm.

And the organization would like to limit him to 150-190 innings
this season, perfect for the No. 5 role.

Latos was impressive in Monday night's four-inning stint against
the Giants, lowering his spring ERA to 2.00 over nine innings.

Left-hander Wade LeBlanc has been equally as impressive, posting
a 2.00 ERA over nine innings.

But right-handers Tim Stauffer and Sean Gallagher have done
nothing to hurt their chances, and they're out of minor-league
options.

Gallagher has some experience working out of the bullpen;
Stauffer has been getting it of late.

But Black said "don't read too much into that."

He said the final decision may come down to carrying four
starters and eight relievers or five starters and seven
relievers.

"But we still have two weeks before we have to make final
decisions, and we may use all that time," Black said.

Game notes

< Jon Garland started Tuesday and worked four innings,
allowing two runs on three hits in a 4-3 loss to the Angels. "He
had good life on his fastball, a good slide and mixed in some
curves," Black said "Overall, a good outing."

< Tim Stauffer was touched for five hits and two runs in two
innings.

< Left-hander Joe Thatcher (shoulder) saw his first action of
the spring, throwing a shutout inning.

< Aaron Cunningham, who is trying to stick as a fourth or
fifth outfielder, made two highlight reel catches in right field
---- one deep in the corner and one in shallow right-center.

< The Padres stole six bases Tuesday ---- two by Cunningham,
two by Luis Durango ---- and lead all major league teams with 26
spring steals.